The Covington Independent Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to begin negotiating a contract with SHP, an architecture, design and engineering firm with an office in Bellevue, at their meeting last week.
The master facilities plan has been a recurring topic of discussion for much of the year. Many of the discussions came about as a response to a proposed school consolidation district staff recommended at the beginning of 2023, which would have seen the closing of 9th District Elementary in the face of rising operational costs. The board delayed making a decision on the consolidation following public outcry. The new facilities plan will help the board reassess the district’s facilities needs and capacity.
The future potential of consolidation or any other action that may arise from the new facilities plan is unclear. The board did not engage in public discussion on the matter at the meeting.
The next meeting of the Covington Independent Schools Board of Education will take place on Dec. 14 at Latonia Elementary School at 6 p.m.